Biography

09/04/1949 -

Michael Matthew Dawida (D43) Allegheny (Part) County 1989-1996    

Early Life:  

Michael Matthew Dawida, born September 4, 1949, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC), Uptown section, city of Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania; son of Mathew and Edna Robert Dawida; Carrick High School, 1967; University of Pittsburgh (B.A.), 1971; Hamline Law School (J.D.), 1977; attorney; elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, 26th district, 1979--1982; reelected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, 36th district, 1983-1988; elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State Senate, 1989-1996; elected, commissioner, Allegheny County, 1996-1999; unsuccessful campaign, Allegheny County Executive, 1999; unsuccessful campaign, controller, Pittsburgh, 2007; professor of law and public policies, California University of Pennsylvania (now Pennsylvania Western University, California); executive director, Scenic Pittsburgh; married Audrey Mielcuszny, three children.

Professional titles; business ownership; board memberships; local government; club memberships:

Member, Regional Advisory Council, Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, University of Pittsburgh; Italian Sons and Daughters Association; Polish Falcons; Greek Catholic Union; Knights of Equity; Carrick Eagles; Baldwin Volunteer Fire Department; Kosciuszko Foundation, Friends of Carrick Library; Carrick and Arlington Community Councils, Tri-State Conference on Steel; board member, Elder-Ado Senior Center, American Wind Symphony, Steel Valley Authority, Foundation for Abraxas, Generations Together, Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation, New Heritage, Incorporated; board of trustees, Alumni Association Board of Trustees, University of Pittsburgh.

Awards:

Kosciuszko Foundation Citizen of the Year, 1990; Pennsylvania Jewish Coalition Senator of the Year, 1990.

Pennsylvania Politics:

Elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, 26th district, 1979--1982; reelected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, 36th district, 1983-1988.

Elected, Pennsylvania State Senate, 1989; Democratic Chairman, Finance Committee; left office 1996.

Pennsylvania House of Representatives Biography:

Official Website - PA House Archives Official Website (state.pa.us)

Cited: 

Cox, Harold. "Senate Members D". Wilkes University Election Statistics Project. Wilkes University.

Pennsylvania Manual, Biographies of Members of the Senate, pg. 83; Volume 109, December 1989.

Pennsylvania Manual, Biographies of Members of the Senate, pg. 3-14; Volume 112, December 1995.